LAS VEGAS — Denver needed a spark. Reiger Lorenz was there to provide it. Dominated in almost every statistical category, Lorenz’s goal finally got things going for the Pioneers in the third period, tying the game at a goal apiece. Kyle Chyzowski put Denver ahead for good late in the third, and the Pioneers held … Read more
LAS VEGAS — Let the power schools have their football money and TV contracts. The small schools still rule college hockey. Denver — enrollment 6,619 and without a football team since 1961 — has its 11th NCAA Division I hockey championship, most of any school, after a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over Wisconsin before a … Read more
[gameday game_id=2656] JD (8:06): A sincere thanks to everyone who followed along. Please join USCHO all night long from Las Vegas with full coverage and analysis of Denver’s 2-1 win over Wisconsin in the Frozen Four championship game. Video, highlights, stories, analysis and more, all coming your way. Keep clickin’! And thanks JD (8:05): It’s all over … Read more
LAS VEGAS — Denver and Wisconsin will play for the NCAA title on Saturday. Not too long ago, neither team could win much of anything. Flashback to January 2026: Wisconsin closed out the month on a six-game losing streak, in which it was outscored 30-15. Denver had just one win in its first seven games … Read more
LAS VEGAS — Trey Augustine is the 2026 Mike Richter Award winner, given to the nation’s top goalie. The Michigan State junior was a two-time finalist for the award. The award was announced Saturday night at the Park MGM by Richter himself. “It’s an honor and a privilege to receive this award,” said Augustine, via … Read more
LAS VEGAS — It’s clear that there’s mutual respect between Wisconsin coach Mike Hastings and Denver bench boss David Carle. They went head to head in 2022’s national championship game when Hasting’s Minnesota State squad faced off against Carle’s Denver, with the Pioneers coming out on top, 5-1. “Obviously, (I have) a lot of respect … Read more
Wisconsin will play for a national championship after beating North Dakota 2-1 in the Frozen Four semifinal Thursday night in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS — Johnny Hicks was under siege all night, and never broke. The Denver goalie had 49 saves, including 21 in overtime, as Denver survivesd Michigan 4-3 in a double-OT thriller on Thursday night at the Frozen Four at T-Mobile Arena. Outshot by a 2-1 ratio over 90 minutes, Denver needed every save Hicks … Read more
LAS VEGAS — Five numbers to know from Thursday’s 4-3 2OT win by Denver over Michigan in the late national semifinal. .667 Denver now has a 6-3 record in NCAA tournament overtime games. The Pioneers lost in the semifinal round in two overtimes to eventual champion Western Michigan, 3-2, last season and beat Boston University … Read more
Watch the 2026 Frozen Four National Semifinal Pregame Show on USCHO.com from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
LAS VEGAS — Five numbers to know from Thursday’s 2-1 win by Wisconsin over North Dakota in the national semifinal. .739 With today’s win, Wisconsin is now 17-6 all-time in Frozen Four play, the best of any program here in Vegas. That’s .739 if you do the math. 2 While they like to say “correlation … Read more
LAS VEGAS — They say that defense wins championships, and while Wisconsin is still one win away from a title, its penalty kill made it possible to advance, with a 2-1 win over North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks had five power plays, including a lengthy stretch of five on three in the second period, put … Read more
[gameday game_id=2654] JD (7:45): It’s all over. Wisconsin will play for the NCAA championship vs. either Michigan or Denver. JD (7:40): North Dakota scores, with Spunar pulled, trail 2-1 with 52.7 seconds left. Hold on to your seats… JD (7:34): SPUNAL PULLED. EMPTY NET FOR NORTH DAKOTA JD (7:32): Can Wisconsin do it? Up 2-0 … Read more
Watch the 2026 Frozen Four National Semifinal Pregame Show on USCHO.com from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
While Denver is obviously a college hockey powerhouse, claiming 10 national titles and shooting for an 11th this weekend. But in the larger sports picture, the Pioneers and fellow NCHA member North Dakota are relatively small compared to their Big 10 counterparts in this year’s Frozen Four, Michigan and Wisconsin. The four teams have combined … Read more
LAS VEGAS — During his playing days, North Dakota coach Dane Jackson got some excellent advice from his mother on coaching. “That’s something my mom told me,” said Jackson. “You can always learn something from every coach.” Jackson has played under some venerable bench bosses like John Tortorella (Rochester Americans), Bruce Boudreau (Manchester Monarchs), Ted … Read more
Wisconsin Badgers How they got here: Won the Worcester Regional, beating Dartmouth 5-1 and Michigan State 4-3 (OT) Overall season record: 23-12-2 Top players: D Ben Dexheimer (7-20-27), D Luke Osburn (6-15-20), F Quinn Finley (17-16-33), F Christian Fitzgerald (16-15-31), F Gavin Morrissey (9-27-33). Top goalie: Daniel Hauser (20-7-2, 2.56, .899) Why they’ll win the … Read more
Denver Pioneers Season record: 27-11-3 How they got to Las Vegas: Won the Loveland Regional, beating Cornell 5-0 and Western Michigan 6-2 Top players: F James Reeder (10-23-33), F Rieger Lorenz (16-18-34), D Erik Pohlkamp (18-21-39), F Sam Harris (15-19-34) Top goalie: Johnny Hicks (14-0-1, 1.12, .958) Why they’ll win the national championship: Hicks has … Read more
Michigan Wolverines How they got to Las Vegas: Won the Albany Regional, beating Bentley 5-1 and Minnesota Duluth 4-3 Overall season record: 31-7-1 Top players: D Tyler Duke (2-16-18), D Luca Fantilli (4-13-17), F T.J. Hughes (21-35-56), F Michael Hage (13-38-51), F Will Horcoff (25-13-38). Top goalie: Jack Ivankovic (25-7-1, 2.13, .923) Why they’ll win … Read more
North Dakota Fighting Hawks Season record: 29-9-1 How they got to Las Vegas: Won the Sioux Falls Regional, beating Merrimack 3-0 and Quinnipiac 5-0 Top players: F Will Zellers (18-16-34), F Ellis Rickwood (8-28-36), D Abram Wiebe (5-24-29) F Cole Reschny (6-29-35). Top goalie: Jan Špunar (20-4-1, 1.90 goals-against average, .917 save percentage). Why they’ll … Read more